Asia Insurance Building & Bank of China Building might be conserved

[shao_ye]

Asia Insurance Building & Bank of China Building might be conserved

Article from Lian He Zao Bao, 21Oct2006.







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市建局考虑保留市区战后商业大厦 亚洲保险大厦中国银行大厦可能受保留
● 吴汉钧
　　市区重建局正与中央商业区内多座战后兴建的大厦业主洽谈，考虑把一些现代高楼大厦列为受保留建筑。

　　据可靠消息，考虑保留的大厦包括亚洲保险大厦（Asia Insurance Building）和中国银行大厦。

　　这个概念一旦落实，相信是市建局自1970年代进行保留工作以来，首次保留战后在中央商业区兴建的高楼大厦。

　　亚洲保险大厦最近被雅诗阁集团（Ascott）购入，该集团决定保留和不更动大厦的外貌，以改建成本地第一座复古“全套房”式服务公寓。

　　中国银行大厦建于1950年代末，10年前扩建时也保留了大厦外观。这些保留行动都是业主自行决定，它们当时可以选择把建筑拆掉重建，但并不这么做。

　　雅诗阁向市建局询问了保留工作的细节。不过，市建局还未决定是否在宪报上公布亚洲保险大厦为受保留建筑。

　　市建局发言人回答本报询问时说，它正同雅诗阁合作，目前还在商讨细节问题，以期达到双赢解决方案来保留亚洲保险大厦。

　　他说：“在开始的那几年，受保留的建筑大部分是代表本地早期发展的店屋。我们的保留工作是持续渐进的，以平衡发展需求和建筑遗产。我们将继续研究是否要保留这些建筑类型。”

　　亚洲保险大厦是原籍中国广东省的富商李亮琪所建。李亮琪以经营水火保险起家，1948年创设亚洲人寿保险有限公司，业绩可观，并在1953年策划兴建一座全新加坡最高的建筑物。

兴建期间正好碰上英女王伊丽莎白二世登基大典，兴建中的大厦也“戴”上王冠以示庆祝。大厦在1956年落成，定名亚洲保险大厦，成为东南亚最高建筑。
　　建筑特色包括与众不同的线条美和阶梯形楼顶。楼顶现在还有象征皇冠的结构，纪念当年英女王伊丽莎白二世的加冕礼。

　　市建局对于雅诗阁保留亚洲保险大厦的决定表示赞赏。发言人说：“我们感到很受鼓舞，雅诗阁是一家很有启发性的发展商，以保留建筑遗产为荣，勇于接受挑战把新加坡中央商业区内一块瑰宝转变成能够加强该公司业务的高品质产品。”

　　市建局也向雅诗阁提供必要的协助如取得旧建筑的防火执照和设计等，同时也让雅诗阁了解当局在保留旧店屋方面的做法。

[Maverick713]

I used to do temp work in the Asia Insurance building for a couple of months. They have antique brass bits in the building, especially the brass letter chute thing. The ceiling height is suprisingly low (like HDB).

Managed to get to the open rooftop once and saw a lovely and relaxing sea view from there.

[RafflesCity]

I do hope they can be officially given conservation status.

btw I think in line with URA's efforts to encourage buildings downtown to install lighting features, I saw that the old Bank of China building is now sporting lighting which really enhance its features.

really beautiful

[redstone]

That's great news!!!

They say AI is Art Deco???

[shao_ye]

i think it meant that the AIB design was influenced by modern movement and art deco...

[Singapor3]

Originally Posted by RafflesCity

I do hope they can be officially given conservation status.

btw I think in line with URA's efforts to encourage buildings downtown to install lighting features, I saw that the old Bank of China building is now sporting lighting which really enhance its features.

really beautiful

hmm got pictures?

[RafflesCity]

nope :P

[Singapor3]

Originally Posted by RafflesCity

nope :P

[Cliff]

Originally Posted by Maverick713

Managed to get to the open rooftop once and saw a lovely and relaxing sea view from there.

not any more! Hmm.. that makes me wonder, how high-end can a service apartment be if all the rooms are facing skyscrapers 20m away...

[redstone]

Originally Posted by Cliff

not any more! Hmm.. that makes me wonder, how high-end can a service apartment be if all the rooms are facing skyscrapers 20m away...

The windows facing the alley are worse... the other building is just like 6m away and much taller than AI.

[RafflesCity]

This building and its setting somehow seems so New-York.....the marketing gimmick and Raffles Place location - it can be high end

[builder1010]

Originally Posted by RafflesCity

This building and its setting somehow seems so New-York.....the marketing gimmick and Raffles Place location - it can be high end

Raffles City, you have made Raffles Place like Manhattan in
NYC!

nice job!

[RafflesCity]

Thanks...but Shenton Way is really Shenton Way because of the density of wall of skyscrapers

[redstone]

Really wonder how it will be converted, specially so many windows are facing the alley.

[RafflesCity]

[Andrew]

I love both of those buildings, some wonderful art deco architecture there.

[wangwang]

I suggest that Raffles City also has a look at the old Afro Asia Building at the junction of Cecil Street and Maccullum St - it is the former Nanyang Siangpau newspaper HQ, and a really cool low rise International Style Modern building.....

Its not quite Manhattan, but looks more like some cool office block from maybe 1950s Milan street..

[redstone]

I really hope it will be conserved.

[RafflesCity]

I agree that the Afro-Asia has a simple elegance to it....a few years ago before I looked at old pics of the city I wouldnt have thought the building worthy of conservation....but its design is really a reflection of its time, and there are not many of its type left in the CBD

Its neighbour, the Crosby House will be demolished...

hehe...it is unlikely, but there are also some old school buildings near Capital Tower

[Singapor3]

For me, I don't feel conserving these buildings will do any benefit, lol.